Graphical apparatus and method for tracking image volume review

ABSTRACT

An apparatus and graphical method for tracking image volume review is provided. An image volume data set is stored in a memory and selected portions of the image volume data set is displayed on a human readable display. A mapping of the displayed portion of the image volume data set is performed relative to a volume completion data set. The volume completion data set with the first portion thereof identified according to the mapping is colorized using a shading function to visually differentiate first portions of the volume completion data set reviewed by a radiologist from remaining portions of the volume completion data set. In that way, a complete review of the image volume can be conducted without missing portions thereof and without redundancy.

The present invention pertains to the image display arts. It findsparticular application in conjunction with the display and review of CTmedical diagnostic images on video monitors and will be described withparticular reference thereto. However, it is to be appreciated that theinvention is also applicable to the display and review of medicaldiagnostic images derived or generated from magnetic resonance, nuclear,and other imaging modalities, to quality assurance and other3-dimensional, non-medical images, and the like. The invention is alsoapplicable to hard copy displays, film image displays, and other displayformats.

Heretofore, CT scanners have irradiated regions of a subject fromvarious angles and detected the intensity of radiation passingtherethrough. For 3-dimensional imaging, the patient was moved along alongitudinal axis of the CT scanner either continuously for spiralscanning or incrementally, to generate a multiplicity of slices. Theimage data were reconstructed and extrapolated or interpolated asnecessary, to generate CT numbers corresponding to each of a3-dimensional array of voxels. For simplicity of illustration, each ofthe CT numbers can be conceptualized as being addressable by itscoordinate location along three orthogonal axes, e.g. x, y, and z-axesof the examined volume.

Typically, the image volume data set is stored in a memory device forcommunication and/or retrieval at a later date. This enables aconvenient review of the patient images by radiologists or clinicians ona workstation or similar PC type system. Various planar representationsof the image volume data set are now commonly available to radiologistsusing the workstation. Most commonly, the examined volume is a 6-sidedprism or polyhedron with square or rectangular faces. The radiologistuses a pointing device such as a mouse to select a view depicting anyone of the six faces of the prism or any one of the slices through aninterior of the prism along any of the (x, y), (x, z) or (y, z) planes.Some display formats also permit oblique or curved planes to beselected. Display formats are also available which permit two or threesides of the prism to be displayed concurrently on a 2-dimensional (i,j) image plane with appropriate visual cues to give the impression of aperspective view in three dimensions.

When radiologists review a patient image volume data set, thetraditional approach is to review the images in a sequential manner,e.g. review axial slices cranial to caudal, one image slice at a time ina fixed order on a page montage of images. However, an increased numberof radiologists are reviewing patient cases on workstations and viewingstations rather than viewing the traditional image films. At theseworkstations, the radiologists typically cause a selected surface, suchas a transverse (x, y) plane on the face (z=0) of the examined volume tobe displayed. The radiologists could then cause a selected number oftransverse planar slices to be ?peeled? away or deleted by indexingalong the z-axis (z=1, 2, . . . Z_(max)) to view the interior transverseplanes. The radiologists could then position the cursor on the (x, y) ortransverse plane to select a coronal or (x, z) plane. The selectedcoronal plane would then be displayed. The operator would then positionthe cursor on the displayed coronal plane and select a sagittal or (y,z) plane. Current medical image workstations commonly permit thetransverse, coronal, or sagittal sections or views to be displayedconcurrently in different view ports on the same screen.

Clearly, reviewing the patient image data set case on a computerworkstation affords a great deal of flexibility in the review process.Viewing techniques for large image volumes currently available inmedical imagers such as MD-CT devices with high temporal-spatialresolution may include cine, montage paging, slabs with variablethickness, and oblique multi-planar reformatting (MPR). Such searchmethods may have sequential or non-sequential navigation or may includegestaltian methodologies. These workstations have the ability to provideradiologists with large amounts of information in a small amount oftime. Particularly, the user may cine through the image data in a ?backand forth? fashion along arbitrary paths, skip around the image volume,switching between sequential and problem solving search paradigms,review supplementary aspects of the volume in various selected MPRplanes, review a suspicious area at a higher resolution and other areasat a lower resolution, or suspend the patient case review and returnthereto at a later date or time.

One disadvantage of the prior art display systems described above,however, is that it is difficult for radiologists to keep track of whichaspect(s) of the patient image volume have been reviewed carefully andwhich portions have not. Although the radiologists have full controlover how images are displayed on the screen, without proceeding throughthe case study sequentially, it is difficult to record or categorizeportions of the image volume previously studied.

One solution is the use of redundant reading. However, this costs timeand is therefore wasteful. Further, the redundant reading technique doesnot guarantee that all relevant portions of the image volume are read.Also, in another solution, radiologists might maintain a mentalchecklist of those solid organs which have been reviewed and those whichhave not. As an example, in the abdomen, the review sequence mightinclude a review of the liver first, followed by kidneys, spleen, and soforth. However, this strategy is not particularly effective in thechest, for instance, as there may be one or more large areas of the lungparachyma that need to be reviewed and the sub-volumes are lessdelineated by discreet anatomical objects. In this case, the radiologistcan simply become ?lost? within an organ image.

The present invention contemplates new and improved apparatus andgraphical methods for tracking image volume review which permit thereview of patient studies on workstations without the risk ofinadvertent omission of a review of critical portions of the patientimage volume. The device and methods disclosed herein provide graphicalfeedback during the review process and in correlation with theanatomical image volume as to which aspects of the image volume havebeen reviewed. This enables the radiologists to search through the dataset as desired and substantially unscripted because the improvedapparatus and methods disclosed herein provide feedback to theradiologists to ensure that all aspects of the image volume are evenlyreviewed or studied without redundant reading.

The subject invention provides graphical feedback identifying thoseaspects of the image volume which have been reviewed, the detailed focusof that review including information relating to an amount of time whichhas been spent on each portion of the volume, and which aspects havebeen skipped or under-reviewed. This information is presented in aseparate display viewport using a ?completion cube? or ?completionsphere? graphical format. As the radiologist displays images at theworkstation, the completion cube is updated in the separate displayviewport to indicate those aspects of the data set which have beenreviewed and at what level of detail. A transform is provided touniquely map the image volume to the completion cube. As portions of theimage volume are displayed for review by a radiologist, the projectionsto the cube are automatically shaded or colorized as a function of thelevel of detail and/or time the image was displayed in accordance with ashading function. Mappings for various image reviews are described, forexample axial, axial followed by coronal, oblique MPR, volumeprojections, and cine. The shading function can also be combined withimage data on a projection or on an axial/sagittal/coronal base. Theshaded cube is displayed simultaneously with the display of the patientimage volume during the study. Data forming the cube can be achieved tomemorialize the study or for retrieval at a later date.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a method of clinicalreview of images of patients includes providing an image volume data setof an anatomical structure. A plurality of selectable portions of theimage volume data set are displayed on a human readable display device.Data identifying each of the plurality of selectable portions displayedon the human readable display is stored as a record of those portions ofthe anatomical structure studied by the radiologist. Preferably, thedata identifying each of the plurality of selectable portions displayedon the human readable display device includes information relating toaspects of the data set which have been reviewed and data indicating thelevel of detail of review.

In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, a method ofclinical review of images of patients includes generating an imagevolume data set of the patient on a scanner device and storing the imagevolume data set in a memory of the scanner device. A first portion ofthe image volume data set is selected using input means of theassociated scanner device. The first portion of the image volume dataset is displayed as a first image of the patient on a human readabledisplay of the scanner device. The first portion of the image volumedata set displayed is mapped to a first portion of a volume completiondata set. The volume completion data set is displayed as a completioncube image with the first portion of the volume completion data set ofthe completion cube identified according to a predetermined colorizationfunction to visually differentiate the first portion of the volumecompletion data set from the remaining portion of the volume completionset.

In accordance with yet a further aspect of the invention, a method ofclinical review of images of patients includes generating multiple imagevolume data sets of the patient using gating means in a scanner devicetriggered according to selected points in multi-phase studies such asliver and cardiac investigations. The image volume data sets aredisplayed individually on a display device simultaneously with acompletion cube identifying portions of the volume image studied byradiologists. As an example, a volume completion cube is displayedcorresponding to each image volume data set collected during heartcycles triggered during various phases thereof such as duringventricular contraction. As each phase is investigated, the completioncube is colorized to confirm that the particular phase was investigatedor displayed.

One advantage of the present invention is that it provides radiologistswith the ability to review image volumes of patients while trackingaspects of the image volume that have been reviewed carefully and whichhave not.

Another advantage of the invention is that it provides radiologists withthe ability to suspend the review of patient image volume data sets asdesired or necessary and then resume those reviews at a later time ordate without the concern of overlooking portions of the image volume andwithout the potential waste of duplicated efforts due to redundantreview.

Still other advantages and benefits of the invention will becomeapparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading and understanding ofthe following detailed description.

The invention may take physical form in certain parts and arrangementsof parts, the preferred embodiments of which will be described in detailin the specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings whichform a part hereof, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of a CT scanner system used inconnection with the subject invention;

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating the preferred method of practicingthe invention;

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic illustration of a workstation in accordancewith the invention;

FIGS. 4 a and 4 b are views of a volume image display and a completioncube display presented to a radiologist in accordance with theinvention;

FIGS. 5 a and 5 b show examples of the completion cube image presentedto a radiologist during a patient image study;

FIGS. 6 a and 6 b show examples of the completion cube displayedfollowing axial/coronal reviews and after an oblique MPR review of thepatient image, respectively;

FIG. 7 is a chart illustrating the preferred shading function used inthe invention;

FIG. 8 illustrates an embodiment of the completion cube includingindicia representative of projection angles used during full volumeprojection review;

FIG. 9 shows an alternative embodiment of a colorization function; and,

FIGS. 10 a and 10 b illustrate alternative embodiments including aspherical completion cube representation and a projection completioncube representation.

Referring now to the drawings wherein the showings are for the purposesof illustrating the preferred embodiment of the invention only and notfor purposes of limiting same, with reference first to FIG. 1, animaging system 10 includes a scanning device 12 and a workstation 12. Apatient table or support 14 includes a patient supporting surface 16that is mounted for longitudinal movement relative to a base portion 18.The base portion 18 includes a motor (not shown) for raising or loweringthe patient support surface 16 and for moving the patient supportsurface longitudinally. Position encoders are also provided forgenerating electrical signals indicative of the height and longitudinalposition of the patient support.

The scanning device 12 is preferably, a CT volumetric diagnostic imagingapparatus 20 is disposed in axial alignment with the patient table suchthat a patient or subject on the patient support surface 16 can be movedinto and through a bore 22 of the volumetric imager. In the illustratedembodiment, the volumetric imager is a CT scanner which includes anx-ray tube mounted for repeated circular travel within a preselectedplane. The x-ray tube projects a fan-shaped beam of radiation through aring 24 of radiation translucent material, through the patient support16, through a region of interest of the subject, and to a ring or arc ofradiation detectors positioned opposite the x-ray tube. As the x-raytube rotates within the plane, a series of data lines are generated,which data lines are reconstructed into at least a slice image by areconstruction processor included in a control console 26 of theworkstation 12. The control console is typically remotely located in ashielded room adjacent the scan room containing the imaging apparatus10. More specifically to the preferred embodiment, the patient support16 moves longitudinally as the x-ray tube is rotating around the subjectsuch that a selected volume of the patient is scanned along a spiralpath or a series of slices. The position of the x-ray tube is monitoredby a rotational position encoder, and the longitudinal position of thepatient support is monitored by a longitudinal position encoder withinthe table 14. The reconstruction processor reconstructs a volumetricimage representation from the generated data lines. The control console26 typically includes one or more monitors 28 and various standardoperator inputs, such as a keyboard, trackball, mouse, or the like.

Turning now to FIGS. 2 and 3, a preferred method of clinical review ofimages of patients will be described. The method 30 includes a firststep 32 of generating an image volume data set 52 (FIG. 3) of thepatient using the associated scanner device 20 described above andillustrated in FIG. 1. The image volume data set is stored in a memoryfor use by a radiologist at a workstation 12 to review the images of thepatient.

At step 34, using an associated input device 54 such as a mouse or thelike a first portion of the image volume data set 52 is selected. Adisplay processor 56 of the workstation 50 is used in step 36 to displaythe selected portion of the image volume data set 52. The first portionis displayed on a display device 58 including a first screen portion 60for displaying a slice or other view of the patient taken from the imagevolume data set and also including a second screen portion 62 fordisplaying a completion cube image in accordance with the invention in amanner to be described below. It is to be appreciated that the displaydevice 58 may be the monitor 28 of the workstation 12 adjacent theimaging device 20, or it may be a stand-alone apparatus remote from theimaging system 10.

A mapping processor 64 is used in step 38 to map the selected firstportion of the image volume data set to a corresponding first portion ofa volume completion data set 66. Preferably, the mapping isnon-overlapping transform of a sub-volume on a volume representation ofthe image data set referred to in this application as a completion cube.Also preferably, the mapping processor 64 utilizes a shading function 66to be described in greater detail below for purposes of shading orcolorizing portions of the volume completion data set corresponding toportions of the image volume data being reviewed by the radiologist.

Lastly with regard to the preferred method 30, in step 40, the volumecompletion data set 66 is displayed on the second screen portion 62 ofthe display device 58 with the first portion of the volume completiondata set according to the predetermined colorization function 58 tovisually differentiate the selected first portion of the volumecompletion data set 52 from the remaining portion of the volumecompletion data set.

It is to be appreciated that the preferred method of clinical review ofimages of patients described above in connection with FIGS. 2 and 3 isextended in an alternative embodiment to cover the case of a ?dynamic?clinical review. More particularly, in cardiac investigations, gating isoften used during the EKG cycle to trigger the scanning device resultingin multiple image volume data sets, each taken at a different point inthe EKG cycle. As an example, fifteen (15) or more image volume datasets may be stored in the imaging device. In the alternative embodimentdescribed herein, a separate volume completion data set is provided in acorresponding relationship to each of the image volume data setscollected from the patient. As each of the image volumes are reviewed inturn by the radiologist, the display step 36, the mapping step 38, andthe colorization and shading step 40 described above in connection withthe ?static? clinical investigation is repeated for each of the imagevolume data set/volume completion data set pairs. In that way, theradiologist can be certain that each image taken at each point in thesubject multi-phasic study has been adequately reviewed.

In the case of liver scans as another example of the alternativeembodiment, a set of three (3) image volume data sets are acquired ateach liver phase including a hypatic enhancement, portal enhancement,and non-arterial enhancement phase. A corresponding set of three (3)volume completion data sets are also provided in a correspondingrelationship with each acquired image volume data set during the three(3) liver phases. The display mapping and colorization and shading stepsdescribed above in connection with the static investigation are repeatedas the investigation by the radiologist unfolds.

As a final but not exhaustive list of examples of the alternativeembodiment of the use of the subject invention to perform multi-phasicstudies, the volume completion cube can be used in investigations madeusing images with contrast and without contrast as well as images takensometime in the past against images taken in the future such as todetermine the effectiveness of chemotherapy or other treatments.

FIGS. 4 a and 4 b illustrate the images 70, 72 displayed on the firstand second screen portions 60, 62 of the display device 58 during atypical patient image volume review by a radiologist. More particularly,as the radiologist displays images 70 such as sections, slabs,projections, etc. of the patient's image volume data set 52 on a displayport 60, a supplemental graphical representation of the image volume inthe form of a completion cube 72 is updated in a separate viewport 62 ofthe display device 58 to indicate those aspects of the data set whichhave been reviewed, how much time has been spent in reviewing eachportion, and a level of detail of review thereof. The preferred mode ofoperation of the invention is to map, using the mapping processor 64each image in the display viewport 60 with a unique mapping to thevolume completion data set 66 which is displayed in the second viewport62 as a completion cube in accordance with a shading or colorizationfunction 68. It is to be appreciated that the mapping/projection is theintersection of the completion cube with the sub-volume being displayedwhich may be an axial slice, a slab, volume projections, oblique MPRviews, MPRs, or a cine display. The projections on the completion cubeare automatically shaded or colorized according to the colorizationfunction 68 to indicate the amount of time the image is displayed or,more appropriately, to indicate the level of focus or the attention paidby radiologists on selected portions of the image volume.

FIGS. 5 a-5 d illustrate a sequence of completion of a shading of thecompletion cube 72 representing a review of axial images conducted by aradiologist. In the example illustrated in those figures, the reviewprocess of the patient case is from superior to inferior. Also, it is tobe appreciated that the axial planes or sections intersect thecompletion cube 72 on sagittal and coronal sides since the axial planesare perpendicular with the sagittal and coronal axes. It is advantageousthat all three (3) sides of the completion cube are presented to theradiologist. The views contained within the cube are projected to thefaces of the cube to be readily identified.

The empty or unshaded completion cube 72 illustrated in FIG. 5 a isindicative that none of the patient image volume data set has yet beenreviewed. Labels 74 may be added to the completion cube representativeof anatomical labels such as illustrated including ?D?, ?I?, ?R? asillustrated. Also, indicia 76, preferably in the form of an arrowhead isused in conjunction with the completion cube 72 displayed on theviewport 62 of the display device 58 to assist the radiologist inunderstanding the things displayed during patient image volume review.

FIG. 5 b shows the completion cube 72 with a first portion 76 thereofshaded representative of the review of a plurality of axial slices ofthe image volume data set having been reviewed by the radiologist. Asfurther shown in that figure, the axial plane is ?framed? using darkenedregions 80 to further assist the radiologist in examining the imagevolume.

FIGS. 5 c and 5 d illustrate the completion cube 72 in various stages ofshading including the first portion 78 discussed above, a second portion82 and a third portion 84. As can be seen, the second portion of shading82 of the completion cube 72 is lighter than the first and thirdportions 78, 84 indicating that a potentially under-reviewed sub-volumeof the image volume data set exists. Again, preferably, the shadingrepresents the amount of time or focus that has been spent on anysub-volume in the image volume data set. FIG. 5 d shows that apotentially under-reviewed sub-space of the image volume data setexists.

FIGS. 6 a and 6 b show the subject completion cube shaded in accordancewith the present invention as a result of various selectable clinicalevaluations of the patient image volume. More particularly, asillustrated in FIG. 6 a, the completion cube 72 includes a first shadedportion 90 resulting from an axial review of the image volume data setand a second shaded portion 92 resulted from a coronal review of theimage volume. As can be seen, third and fourth portions 94, 96 of thecompletion cube 72 remain unshaded. This of course indicates thatportions of the image volume data set have not been reviewed at all bythe radiologist. Further, as shown in FIG. 6 a, the first portion of thecompletion cube 72 is shaded darker than the second portion 92. Thisindicates that the radiologist spent more time in conducting the axialreview of the first portion of the image volume data set than conductingthe coronal review of the second portion of the image volume data set.Lastly, it is also to be observed that at least one portion of the imagevolume data set was reviewed by the radiologist twice, first in theaxial review, and then in the coronal review. More particularly, theoverlap between the first portion 90 and the second portion 92 of theshading in the completion cube 72 clearly shows this.

FIG. 6 b illustrates a completion cube 72 in accordance with theinvention wherein the image volume review was conducted using an obliqueMPR review process. As shown, a shaded region 100 bisects the completioncube 72 at an oblique angle and divides the cube into a large firstportion 102 and a smaller second portion 104.

Turning now to FIG. 7, the preferred form of the shading function 68will be described with reference to a plurality of shading curves 110plotted on a Cartesian coordinate graph including a brightness dimension112 on the ordinate and a time dimension 114 on the abscissa. As beseen, the brightness axis ranges from a white 116 or no shading end to ablack 118 end. A first curve 120 illustrates that the preferredembodiment of the shading function 68 shades quickly when a thin sliceis viewed by the radiologist on the display device. As can be seen, thecurve 120 is substantially vertical and transitions quickly to the black118 end of the axis. Second and third curves 122, 124 show that the greyscale shading function fills in, colorizes, or otherwise shades portionsof the completion cube less quickly as the slice or volume portion ofthe image volume increases. As noted above, preferably, the shading inthe volume completion cube is representative of the time spent or theattention given per volume measure of the image volume. Accordingly, asthe slice thickens the attention given to the volume image on thedisplay on a volume basis is automatically decreased and, therefore, forfull colorization or scaling to occur, that image must be displayed forlonger periods of time. Accordingly, as can be seen, a thick slicegenerates a curve as shown at reference numeral 122 and thicker slicesfill in at a rate substantially as indicated at curve 124. At anextreme, if the entire image volume is displayed, the preferred greyscale shading function is representative at curve 126. This is the casewhere the attention or focus is not confined to small thin slices but,rather, the study substantially loses focus because the entire imagevolume is displayed.

It is to be appreciated that several shading functions can be definedwhich represents the amount of time spent reviewing each slice. Thecurves shown in FIG. 7 take into account the thicknesses of the slicesbeing reviewed. As an example, using a fast cine through thick slabswould dark-shade the completion cube more slowly than if thin sliceswere reviewed one image at a time. This shading function holds forfull-volume projection, the limit of the thick slice as represented incurve 126. In this review process, the shading function may never reachthe dark side regardless of how long the view is displayed by theradiologist on the display device.

FIG. 8 illustrates another preferred aspect of the invention in the caseof a full volume projection review by the radiologist. Turning now tothat figure, the completion cube 72 is illustrated in a partially shadedcondition with a plurality of arrows or vectors 130 extending from thecube. In this embodiment, the set of arrows represents the projectionangles used during volume image review by the radiologist. The arrowsprovide feedback concerning the projection angles used as the entireimage volume is reviewed by the radiologist in its entirety. A firstarrow 132 was considered by the radiologist from an axial perspective. Asecond arrow 134 shows that the entire image volume was reviewed by theradiologist from a sagittal perspective. A plurality of third arrows 136show that the radiologist viewed the patient image volume fromperspectives ranging from sagittal to axial. A particular arrow 138 ismarked with indicia shown in the figure as a dot and dash linerepresentative of the radiologists marking that perspective of the imagevolume for further review. Preferably, the arrows, their directions, andrelationships to the volume completion cube are stored in the memory ofthe workstation 50.

FIG. 9 shows an alternative embodiment wherein a colorized function isused in place of the shading function described above. As shown there,the volume representation for completion feedback are volume-centeredplanar axial, sagittal, and coronal slices rather than the cubedescribed above. As aspects of the image volume are displayed/read suchas slices, slabs, MPRs, etc., they are projected to the axial, sagittal,and coronal planes i.e., anatomical reference view ports usingintersection, and the projections are colorized according to reviewtime. For example, a read overlay 140 on the CT number, for instance,indicates the amount of time spent, and the blue overlay 142 mayrepresent an under-reviewed aspect of the volume.

With reference lastly to FIGS. 10 a and 10 b, further alternativeembodiments of the invention are illustrated. In FIG. 10 a, a sphere 150is used in place of the volume completion cube described above whenrepresenting angles which projection angles have been used during imagevolume review. In FIG. 10 b, multiple completion cubes 152-156 are usedfor various search methods.

The invention has been described with reference to the preferredembodiment. Obviously, modifications and alterations will occur toothers upon reading and understanding this specification. It is intendedto include all such modifications and alterations insofar as they comewithin the scope of the appended claims or the equivalence thereof.

1. A system (50) for auditing review of images of a patient, the system(50) comprising: a source of an image volume data set (52) of thepatient; a display device (58); a display processor (56) for selectivelydisplaying a first portion of the image volume data set (52) on thedisplay device (58); a source of a volume completion data set (66); and,a mapping processor (64) for performing a mapping transformation of saidfirst portion of the image volume data set (52) displayed on the displaydevice (58) into a first portion of the volume completion data set (66)to store in the volume completion data set a record that said firstportion of the image volume data set (52) was displayed on said displaydevice (58).
 2. The system (50) according to claim 1 wherein the displayprocessor (56) is adapted to display the volume completion data set (66)on said display device (58) as a completion cube image (72) with a firstportion of the completion cube image (72) corresponding to said firstportion of the completion data set 66 being shaded relative to theremaining portion of the completion cube image (72) to visually identifysaid first portion of the image volume data set (52) being displayedagainst the remainder of the image volume data set (52) not beingdisplayed.
 3. The system (50) according to claim 1 wherein the mappingprocessor (64) is adapted to perform said mapping transformation inconjunction with a shading function (68) to map said first portion ofthe image volume data set (52) together with data relating to a level ofreview focus of the displayed first portion of the image volume data set(52) into said first portion of the volume completion data set (66). 4.The system (50) according to claim 3 wherein said data relating to saidlevel of review focus includes review audit information of a volume ofsaid image volume data set (52) displayed on said display device (58)per a length of time said volume of said image volume data set (52) isdisplayed on said display device (58).
 5. The system (50) according toclaim 4 wherein the display processor (56) is adapted to display thevolume completion data set (66) on said display device (58) as acompletion cube image (72) with a first portion of the completion cubeimage (72) corresponding to said first portion of the completion dataset (66) being shaded relative to the remaining portion of thecompletion cube image (72) in accordance with said review auditinformation to visually identify said first portion of the image volumedata set (52) being displayed against the remainder of the image volumedata set (52) not being displayed.
 6. The system (50) according to claim4 wherein the display processor (56) is adapted to display the volumecompletion data set (66) on said display device (58) as a completioncube image (72) with a first portion of the completion cube image (72)corresponding to said first portion of the completion data set (66)being colorized relative to the remaining portion of the completion cubeimage (72) in accordance with said review audit information to visuallyidentify said first portion of the image volume data set (52) beingdisplayed against the remainder of the image volume data set (52) notbeing displayed.
 7. The system (50) according to claim 1 furtherincluding: an input means (54) operable by an operator of the system(50) to select a plurality of views of said image volume data set (52)of the patient corresponding to a plurality of portions of said imagevolume data set (52), and wherein the display processor (56) is adaptedto display each of said plurality of views of the image volume data set(50) on the display device (58) as the plurality of views are selectedby the operator using the input means (54), and the mapping processor(64) performs said mapping transformation of each of said plurality ofportions of the image volume data set (52) displayed on the displaydevice (58) into a plurality of portions of the volume completion dataset (66) as said record that said plurality of views of the image volumedata set (50) were displayed on said display device (58).
 8. The system(50) according to claim 7 wherein: the mapping processor (64) is adaptedto perform said mapping transformation in conjunction with a shadingfunction (68) to map said plurality of portions of the image volume dataset (52) together with data relating to a level of review focus of thedisplayed plurality of portions of the image volume data set (52) into acorresponding plurality of portions of the volume completion data set(66); and, the display processor (56) is adapted to display theplurality of portions of the volume completion data set (66) on saiddisplay device (58) as a completion cube image (72) with portions of thecompletion cube image (72) corresponding to said plurality of portionsof the completion data set (66) being shaded relative to the remainingportion of the completion cube image (72) to visually identify saidplurality of portions of the image volume data set (52) having beendisplayed against the remainder of the image volume data set (52) nothaving been displayed.
 9. The system (50) according to claim 8 wherein:the source of said image volume data set (52) is a scanning device (20)adapted to scan said patient and generate said image volume data set(52); and, said plurality of views of said image volume data set (52)include at least one of: a slice through said image volume data set(52); a slab through said image volume data set (52); and, planar MPRviews including axial, sagittal, and coronal.
 10. A method of auditingreview of images of a patient, the system comprising: providing a sourceof an image volume data set (52) of the patient; providing a displaydevice (58); using a display processor (56), selectively displaying afirst portion of the image volume data set (52) on the display device(58); providing a source of a volume completion data set (66); and,using a mapping processor (64), performing a mapping transformation ofsaid first portion of the image volume data set (52) displayed on thedisplay device (58) into a first portion of the volume completion dataset (66) to store in the volume completion data set a record that saidfirst portion of the image volume data set (52) was displayed on saiddisplay device (58).
 11. The method according to claim 10 furthercomprising: using the display processor (56), displaying the volumecompletion data set (66) on said display device (58) as a completioncube image (72) with a first portion of the completion cube image (72)corresponding to said first portion of the completion data set 66 beingshaded relative to the remaining portion of the completion cube image(72) to visually identify said first portion of the image volume dataset (52) being displayed against the remainder of the image volume dataset (52) not being displayed.
 12. The method according to claim 10further comprising: using the mapping processor (64), performing saidmapping transformation in conjunction with a shading function (68) tomap said first portion of the image volume data set (52) together withdata relating to a level of review focus of the displayed first portionof the image volume data set (52) into said first portion of the volumecompletion data set (66).
 13. The method according to claim 12 whereinthe step of mapping using said data relating to said level of reviewfocus includes mapping using review audit information of a volume ofsaid image volume data set (52) displayed on said display device (58)per a length of time said volume of said image volume data set (52) isdisplayed on said display device (58).
 14. The method according to claim13 further comprising: displaying the volume completion data set (66) onsaid display device (58) as a completion cube image (72) with a firstportion of the completion cube image (72) corresponding to said firstportion of the completion data set (66) being shaded relative to theremaining portion of the completion cube image (72) in accordance withsaid review audit information to visually identify said first portion ofthe image volume data set (52) being displayed against the remainder ofthe image volume data set (52) not being displayed.
 15. The methodaccording to claim 13 further comprising: displaying the volumecompletion data set (66) on said display device (58) as a completioncube image (72) with a first portion of the completion cube image (72)corresponding to said first portion of the completion data set (66)being colorized relative to the remaining portion of the completion cubeimage (72) in accordance with said review audit information to visuallyidentify said first portion of the image volume data set (52) beingdisplayed against the remainder of the image volume data set (52) notbeing displayed.
 16. The method according to claim 10 further including:using an input means (54) operable by an operator of the system (50), toselecting a plurality of views of said image volume data set (52) of thepatient corresponding to a plurality of portions of said image volumedata set (52), displaying each of said plurality of views of the imagevolume data set (50) on the display device (58) as the plurality ofviews are selected by the operator using the input means (54), andperforming said mapping transformation of each of said plurality ofportions of the image volume data set (52) displayed on the displaydevice (58) into a plurality of portions of the volume completion dataset (66) as said record that said plurality of views of the image volumedata set (50) were displayed on said display device (58).
 17. The methodaccording to claim 16 further comprising: using the mapping processor(64), performing said mapping transformation in conjunction with ashading function (68) to map said plurality of portions of the imagevolume data set (52) together with data relating to a level of reviewfocus of the displayed plurality of portions of the image volume dataset (52) into a corresponding plurality of portions of the volumecompletion data set (66); and, using the display processor (56),displaying the plurality of portions of the volume completion data set(66) on said display device (58) as a completion cube image (72) withportions of the completion cube image (72) corresponding to saidplurality of portions of the completion data set (66) being shadedrelative to the remaining portion of the completion cube image (72) tovisually identify said plurality of portions of the image volume dataset (52) having been displayed against the remainder of the image volumedata set (52) not having been displayed.
 18. The method according toclaim 17 further comprising: providing the source of said image volumedata set (52) using a scanning device (20) adapted to scan said patientand generate said image volume data set (52); and, displaying saidplurality of views of said image volume data set (52) includesdisplaying at least one of: a slice through said image volume data set(52); a slab through said image volume data set (52); and, planar MPRviews including axial, sagittal, and coronal.
 19. A method of clinicalreview of images of patients comprising: providing an image volume dataset of an anatomical structure; displaying a plurality of selectableportions of said image volume data set on a human readable display; and,storing data identifying each of said plurality of selectable portionsdisplayed on the human readable display.
 20. A method comprising: usingan associated scanner device, generating an image volume data set of apatient on the scanner device and storing the image volume data set in amemory of the scanner device; selecting a first portion of the imagevolume data set using input means of the associated scanner device;displaying the first portion of the image volume data set as a firstimage of the patient on a human readable display of said associatedscanner device; mapping said first portion of the image volume data setto a first portion of a volume completion data set; and, displaying saidvolume completion data set with said first portion of the volumecompletion data set identified according to a predetermined colorizationfunction to visually differentiate said first portion of the volumecompletion data set from the remaining portion of the volume completionset.